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Japan SDF Candidate Recruit Exam Photo: Spec and How to Create

Make a Japan Self-Defense Forces recruit exam photo that meets Ministry of Defense rules, from a smartphone shot, for ¥200.

  • Pay after preview · refund guaranteed
  • Matches the official spec (verified 2026-05-26)
  • Print at any Japan conbini
Official spec data
Dimensions40mm × 30mm
Face lengthNot specified
Top marginNot specified
BackgroundPlain background, white recommended — no official color spec, but plain background is customary
Shoot-by windowTaken within 6 months of application
Official issuerMinistry of Defense / Japan Self-Defense Forces

View the official source ↗(Last verified: 2026-05-26)

Only photos taken within the last 6 months are valid — check when your current photo was taken.

Turn a phone shot into a photo that meets this exact spec. Preview the result first — then pay ¥200. Full refund if it's rejected.

Create with this spec

Verbatim official spec

The verbatim official spec from Japan's Ministry of Defense / SDF recruitment guide is shown below in the original Japanese.

  • 「次のような写真を、その裏面に氏名を記入し、はがれないように貼ってください。・申込前６箇月以内撮影 ・脱帽、上半身、正面向き ・縦４㎝、横３㎝程度」

Why this spec matters

Japan SDF (Self-Defense Forces) candidate recruit exams require **two identical photos** — one for the application form and one for the SDF exam ticket. The official spec uses the wording "approximately 4cm × 3cm" rather than a strict ±0.5mm tolerance, giving more flexibility than My Number or national civil service exam photos. However, the unique requirements are strict: taken within 6 months of application, no hat, upper body front-facing, and **name written on the back with photos firmly attached so they cannot peel off**. With candidates aged 18–32, many apply close to deadlines, so understanding the spec ahead of time avoids last-minute reshoots.

Price & risk comparison

Ramune AI ID PhotoRefund guaranteed

Preview free → pay only if you like it / full refund if rejected

¥200
Photo booth

No retakes — final on the spot

¥700〜1,000
Photo studio

Booking & visit required

¥1,500〜
Rejected at the counter

1–2 weeks lost

Re-shoot + re-apply

* Other prices are typical market estimates. With Ramune you pay only after seeing the result, with a full refund if the photo is rejected.

Preview your photo free first

How to create it for ¥200

A spec-compliant SDF recruit exam photo takes about two minutes with a smartphone and ¥200.

  1. 1

    Take the photo on your smartphone

    Stand against a plain wall in a bright room. Face the camera directly, no hat, upper body visible, neutral expression with mouth closed, eyes on the lens.
  2. 2

    AI removes background and aligns to 30×40mm spec

    Upload the photo. AI removes the background, detects your face, and auto-crops to the 30×40mm SDF spec. Fine-tune position to 0.1mm precision.
  3. 3

    Print 2 copies via QR code and sign the back

    After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print at any Japan convenience store (L-size from ¥30), cut out two copies, write your name on each back, and attach firmly to the application and exam ticket.

Create an SDF Recruit Exam Photo for ¥200 (2 prints supported)

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the Ministry of Defense official spec. A QR code for printing two copies at any Japan convenience store is emailed to you.

Create now — ¥200

What Ramune AI ID Photo offers

Even for a tight spec like My Number, you can finish the entire shoot → process → print workflow in your browser.

Cropping screen with horizontal and vertical guidelines to adjust face position, width, hairline, and chin in 0.1mm units

0.1mm face position adjustment

Drag the hairline, chin, and face-width guides — or type the millimetre value — to fit inside even a 4mm-wide regulatory window like the My Number spec.

Auto-generated L-size print sheet

Multiple photos optimally arranged on L-size paper with cut marks. Print directly at home or at a convenience store.

AI removes the background automatically

Walls or objects in the original shot are auto-removed; AI converts the photo to the plain background the spec requires.

AI skin smoothing with a natural finish

Auto-reduces blemishes and uneven tone while keeping a natural look. Choose between the original and the smoothed version.

Print at 55,000 convenience stores nationwide

Scan the QR code at the multi-copy machine in Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop, or Poplar — L-size prints from ¥30. At 7-Eleven, register the image with netprint first.

5-language support, no app required

Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese — works entirely in your smartphone browser without installing an app.

Frequently asked questions

How strict is the "approximately 4cm × 3cm" tolerance?
The official spec does not give an exact numeric tolerance. In practice, ±2-3mm is generally accepted, but printing at exactly 30×40mm is the safest. Ramune AI ID Photo outputs precisely at 30×40mm.
Why are two photos required?
SDF candidate applications require attaching the same photo to both the **application form** and the **SDF exam ticket**. You need two identical copies, each with your name written on the back, firmly attached.
Is the photo spec different for online vs paper applications?
The submission method differs, and so does the underlying photo file spec. Paper applications use two roughly-30x40mm prints, while online applications (via the SDF recruitment portal) run your uploaded photo through an official "image cropping tool" that auto-processes it to exactly 640px wide x 832px tall (confirmed via the tool's own validation labels, and 640:832 matches the standard ID-photo physical size of 40mm x 52mm at 16px/mm). This differs slightly in aspect ratio from Ramune's 30x40mm print output, but since the portal's own tool auto-crops to spec, uploading a well-centered face photo works smoothly either way.
Do Ground, Maritime, and Air SDF require separate photos?
All three branches share the same recruitment guidelines and photo spec. However, when applying to multiple branches, you need two photos per branch (application + exam ticket), so total photos = number of branches × 2.
Is writing the name on the back mandatory? Can I use a pencil?
Yes, it is mandatory per the official guidelines. Use an oil-based ballpoint pen or permanent marker rather than pencil so the writing does not smudge. Write on a flat hard surface to avoid leaving an impression on the photo front.
What if my photo was the wrong size and got rejected?
No re-shoot needed. Upload your smartphone photo and AI auto-adjusts it to the correct spec in about 2 minutes. Preview free, pay ¥200 only if you like it, full refund if it's rejected — avoiding the 1–2 week loss of a counter re-shoot and re-application.

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Create an SDF Recruit Exam Photo for ¥200 (2 prints supported)

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the Ministry of Defense official spec. A QR code for printing two copies at any Japan convenience store is emailed to you.

Create now — ¥200

Make yours to this spec

¥200 · pay after preview

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Japan SDF Recruit Photo: 30×40mm Spec | ¥200 — Ramune AI ID Photo